ByCRE
How the mitres have fallen – but it’s not the end of colourful clergy
Mitres, stoles, capes and chasubles – the traditional clothing of Church of England clergy – may disappear from churches services after the Church of England voted last week to allow ministers to ‘wear what they want’.
It’s proved a difficult time for ecclesiastical designer Juliet Hemingray, a long-time CRE exhibitor, who has led the way in not only adding colour to vestments but, through her designs, making allusions to biblical narratives.
‘They are visual aids,’ she explains, ‘and do not form a barrier between wearer and observer. The subject matter on the stole or scarf, for example, can start helpful conversations.’
Juliet’s business began in 1979 when a close friend asked her to decorate a plain black preaching scarf with scenes that would appeal to children.
‘Orders poured in for bespoke designs reflecting the faith of customers,’ she recalls. ‘I have created 13 jobs and enabled more than 30,000 people to portray the Gospel in a way that is personal and meaningful. One friend in Tennessee told me he couldn’t remember any sermons from his early church life but recalled symbols on vestments and hangings. They meant a great deal to him.’
Juliet believes there is room for both options – vestments or more informal clothing.
‘My choice is obviously the first, purely from a Gospel-preaching standpoint,’ she says. ‘But you should make the most of whatever you are wearing and when you are not speaking, let the garment speak!’
Her view was reflected at two recent meetings in Lancashire. More than 4,000 schoolchildren gathered at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers, for a talk given by the Bishop of Burnley, Rt Rev Philip North. Dramatically, he revealed an Arsenal shirt under his vestments, using the long-standing rivalry between Division One team Blackburn and Premier League Burnley FC to discuss the importance of loyalty.
Only a week before Canon Mark Jones, vicar of St Leonard’s Church in nearby Padiham, wore a Queen’s Park Rangers’ shirt – the team he supports – in front of 200 children from the local primary school. He wore it to illustrate how belonging to and supporting a child is an important part of any christening service. He ‘baptised’ a baby doll for two seven-year-old pupils.
In an area in which some members of the clergy have ignored the rulings and worn no clerical identification or the minimum for some time, the new pronouncement gives everyone the opportunity to be free and easy on some social occasions and add colour and pomp on others – without causing offence. It may even offer those ‘wearing parables’ to speak clearly to their congregation without uttering a word.
Step forward, Juliet!
David Hall
Juliet will be on Stand S129 at CRE 2017
ByCRE
All kinds of everything… for all types of church
Irish singer Dana opened CRE in 1993 (see picture) and, we’re delighted she will do the same again – cutting the tape on an exhibition that offers all kinds of everything for all types of churches.
Dana will be with us for three days, where she will be interviewed by Rev Cindy Kent MBE about her wide-ranging career in music and politics and take part in various special events.
As Ireland’s first winner of the prestigious Eurovision Song Contest, the school girl from Derry became an overnight singing star, with a number one record throughout Europe. Years of recording success followed with chart-topping albums and singles and she hosted her own hit series, A Day Out with Dana (BBC), andWake Up Sunday (BBC).
In the midst of a successful mainstream career, Dana started to speak publicly about her faith. She and husband Damien began writing songs together, including Totus Tuus – inspired by the motto of the Late Pope John Paul II.
In 1987, Dana was invited to lead 86,000 young people in singing Totus Tuus for Pope John Paul II in the New Orleans’s Super Dome. Around this time, she was also invited to sing at three of Dr. Billy Graham’s Crusades, two in the US, and one in London’s Wembley Stadium in the UK.
During the 1990s, she entered the world of politics, securing a nomination to run in the 1997 Irish Presidential election, the first non-political, non-party candidate ever to do so. She campaigned on protecting the Christian family values and life enshrined in the Irish Constitution, and earned a respectable 14 per cent of the votes, beating one of Ireland’s major political parties. In 1999, she was subsequently elected as a Member of the European Parliament, representing Ireland’s Connacht-Ulster constituency from 1999 to 2004.
Dana and her husband Damien have their own new music production company called DS Music Productions. She has remained close to her Irish roots, working tirelessly for peace and Christian family values.
ByCRE
1000 churches later, Dunphy is hot property
A new electric system that mimics a hot water system by warming the fabric of the building – without using a boiler and running on electricity.
That’s just one of the innovations from CRE exhibitor Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Heating.
‘It is particularly useful for churches in more remote locations where mains gas is not available,’ explained Dunphy, who juggles being chair of League One Rochdale FC with running a firm which has designed and installed cost-effective heating systems for more than 40 years.
‘We’ve probably heated more than 1,000 churches,’ said Dunphy. ‘If you’ve got a medieval or Victorian building you’re looking at walls two to seven feet thick. They act like storage heaters. The worse nightmare is a church built in the 1960s or 70s – with low heat retention. Give me an old church any day!
‘It is a complex issue with far-reaching implications which affect the very fabric of your building. Factors almost uniquely relevant to churches that have to be considered. Noise, excessive movement of air, changes in humidity and of course the visual effect on the aesthetic of the church. To get any of these wrong can lead not only to a poorly heated church but can also lead to considerable damage of the building via thermal shock, distortion, condensation, wood rot or even organ damage’.
In short, warns Dunphy, a bad heating system can be disastrous.
‘Our philosophy on church heating is quite simple: to produce the most cost effective solution to your individual needs in the long term,’ he maintains. ‘The criteria for this will be different in every church. When we install a heating system, we like the finished product to be unobtrusive as possible. We pay great attention to every detail. Heat emitters can be colour coded if required and piperuns made as neat and discreet as possible.’
Twelve-year-old Jonathan will speak up for the speechless
A 12-year-old best-selling author will help open CRE – and speak up for the speechless.
Jonathan Bryan, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, is entirely non-verbal. He uses an alphabet board to spell out everything he wants to say and in his book, Eye Can Write, reflects on his Christian faith.
Jonathan’s father, Rev Christopher Bryan is rector of Gauzebrook and area dean of North Wilts. His son’s faith, rooted in a profound experience of the life to come, is both ‘hugely inspiring and challenging. The prospect of going to be with Christ is such a strong and real thing it totally informs his attitude to death, getting ill and everything. That really makes you think about your own attitude.’
In the days after Jonathan’s birth, and for the first time in her life, Jonathan’s mother, Chantal, prayed until she was ‘spent’, joined by others over the country — strangers, in many instances.
‘God answered our prayers,’ she told the Church Times. ‘Jonathan survived, and, OK, he is stuck in a body here that doesn’t work very well, but, actually, what has been transformed out of that is something that none of us would have thought of in the early days. His faith encourages others. I say now sometimes that he is more healed, in a way, than the rest of us. A lot of people are still trying to find out who they are and what they are, and he is happy with who he is.’
The Bryan family have set up a charity, Teach Us Too (a panel about the organisation will be on display at CRE), promoting the right for all children to be taught to read and write, whatever their label or diagnosis. Three more organisations will exhibit under the Churches for All banner – each committed to improving universal access to church buildings and programmes. Count Everyone In, The Lodge Trust, and Torch Trust will offer visitors a breadth of experience and depth of knowledge on disability issues.
Opening the exhibition will be singer/songwriter Marilyn Baker, blind almost from birth, who will be accompanied by a choir from Notre Dame school in Cobham, using Makaton, a language programme using signs and symbols to help people communicate.
Gordon Temple, executive officer for Churches for All, says: ‘CRE presents a great opportunity to support and encourage churches as they strive to welcome, include and involve people living with disabilities in every aspect of church life.’
• Churches for All will hold a seminar at CRE 2018 (12pm, Tue 16 Oct)
Click here for a list of more than 200 exhibitors at CRE 2018
Click the button below to pre-register for CRE 2018 for as little as £3
Bringing life to wherever you are
If your church is looking for a way of collaborating, resourcing and sharing the Bible through real lives, real contexts and a shared hope – the solution can be found in Lifebringers.
That’s the view of Matt Currey, UK development manager for CRE 25 exhibitor Lifewords.
‘Whether you’re a church leader, chaplain, youth worker, volunteer, or simply someone trying to live out your faith day-to-day – Lifebringers is for you,’ he told CRE News. ‘To be a Lifebringer is to bring life where you are – in your neighbourhood, your church, your workplace. It’s about sharing the life-giving message of the Bible in word and deed.
‘We are here to celebrate, support and resource you, providing practical tools, innovative ideas and opportunities to partner with a global movement of people who are bringing life to their communities.’
Matt and Elizabeth King, supporter engagement lead, will be speak on ‘10 fresh ideas for sharing the Bible’ in the My Church Needs One of Those talks area at CRE 25 (11.40am, Wed 15 Oct).
Representatives from Lifewords will be available on stand C2 to provide information on how the organisation can help provide literature for use in classrooms, hospitals, homes, streets and churches – sharing the Bible with all ages in ways that are authentic, contextual and deeply human.
The Rev Helen Shannon, estates enabler at the Diocese of London said: ‘I’d recommend Lifewords to anyone who is looking for well-produced and attractive materials to help them share the Bible in services, groups or in their community. My team is very grateful for these amazing resources.’
- Lifewords are on stand C2 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Choose wise stewards at comfortable venues
Church leaders looking for a centre to provide facilities for retreat, conferences and special events should consider The Venues Collection – ‘a hospitality model perfectly aligning with Christian values around stewardship, care for creation and social responsibility.’
That’s the view of Laurina Rushworth, director of faith for the five residential conference venues in the UK, including Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire and Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes. The Venues Collection, exhibitors at CRE 25, offers spaces for churches, charities and Christian organisations to meet, learn and worship.
‘Yarnfield Park is centrally located in the Midlands and offers extensive grounds, peaceful settings and large-scale capacity, with rooms for up to 500 guests – making it the ideal venue for church weekends, training events or ministry gatherings,’ said Laurina. ‘Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes, with excellent transport links, provides modern, accessible facilities supported by advanced, energy-saving technology and eco-conscious operations. Both sites maintain wildflower areas, beehives and wildlife habitats – demonstrating their care for God’s creation.’
The Venues Collection received a gold award for ‘Sustainability Award for Venues’ at the Conference & Event Awards 2025.
‘It is testament to the hard work and passion by the team, and reinforces the group’s commitment to deep decarbonisation, positioning them as a true pioneer in sustainable events,’ said Laurina.
- The Venues Collection are on stand D10 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
The eyes (and ears) have it
Ground-breaking technology that delivers live speech transcription – in any language and directly to a mobile phone or AV system – will be a major focus at CRE 25.
SpeakSee will have church leaders amazed at how it can help deaf people and those hard of hearing, as well as doubling as a live-translation device for non-native speakers. This is a brand-new product in the UK, solely distributed to churches by long-standing CRE exhibitor DM Music, who have been established for more than 30 years as one of the leading, dedicated church audio-visual system installers.
Adam Lee, the UK regional director for the Dutch-based SpeakSee company, will join DM Music on their stand as well as giving a live demonstration of SpeakSee’s capabilities at the ‘My Church Needs One of Those’ presentation area (1.40pm, Wed 15 Oct).
‘SpeakSee’s live dictation will also be in constant use in all the CRE talks areas,’ Adam told CRE News. ‘By scanning the QR code at the relevant stage, you will be able connect to SpeakSee on your phone!’
- SpeakSee are on the DM Music stand F1 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
Flagging down the faithful
A range of ready-made church flags – designed to support outreach, services and events throughout the Christian calendar – will be on display at CRE for the first time this year.
Themes include Welcome, Prayer Space, Messy Church, Christmas and Easter services – and many more.
Adam Haycock, managing director of Sailflags, said: ‘All the flags are printed in our UK factory using eco-friendly, recycled polyester and water-based inks. This not only helps reduce environmental impact but ensures excellent durability and colour vibrancy – even in the unpredictable British weather!
‘They are highly visual, easy to set up, and ideal for churches looking to boost visibility or promote community events. They also come in a variety of sizes with a wide range of base options to suit grass, tarmac and indoor surfaces. We also offer a free design service for churches that want to include their own logos, themes, or colours. The right flag can be a powerful tool for outreach – and we’d love to help more churches stand out and be seen.’
Visitors to CRE 25 can take advantage of exclusive event offers and speak to the Sailflags team about bespoke options for churches and special events.
- Sailflags are on stand C4 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
Book your ticket to CRE 25!
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
BySimon
Thursday talks programme at CRE 25
Here is the complete listing of talks for Thursday 16 October.
Follow the links for information about each talk.
Also see the Wednesday talks and the talks programme guide.
10.45am
Are you sitting uncomfortably?
Jon Redish, The Church Cushion Company, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
11.00am
Collaborative design: How to get the church building you really need
Mark Newall, BCHN Architects, Talks Area 1
The church has a past. Has it got a future?
Rev Andy Roland, Talks Area 2
Introduction to OSCAR and Mission on the Map
Mike Frith, Oscar, Talks Area 3
Getting the best from your keyboard
Matt Cossey, Headline (Nord) Keyboards, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
11.08am
Bags of welcome for people with additional needs
Sharon Lloyd, URC, Talks Area 3
11.16am
Embrace the Middle East
Embrace the Middle East, Talks Area 3
11.20am
Is godly marriage possible in the 21st century?
Deji and Sunmi Ayorinde, Infinity Marriages, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
11.24am
A mission of transformaton: Adam’s Journey from leprosy and despair to healing and hope
Gabby North, Leprosy Mission, Talks Area 3
11.30am
Successful fundraising for your church building project
Sean Tully, Action Planning, Talks Area 1
Making evangelism easy. Honestly!
Mark Perkins, Good News Outreach Newspaper, Talks Area 2
In Concert: Bryn Haworth – with God on his slide
Steve Legg Arts Café
11.35am
Top tips to engage children and young people in your community
Bob Goody, Rural Missions, Talks Area 3
11.40am
Why single people are key to church growth
Beth Chan, Single Friendly Church, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
12.00 noon
The Quiet Revival: Nothing but noise or silently significant?
Dr Rob Barward-Symmons, The Bible Society, Talks Area 2
Introducing Frank Wright Mundy’s nonalcoholic communion wine
Nathan Wilson, Biddenden Vineyard, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
12.10pm
The huge pile of flapping fish!
Graham Whiteman, Don’t Walk in the Dark, Talks Area 3
12.18pm
Understanding Mission: Introducing a new and free resource for churches
Simon Foulds, Langham Partnership, Talks Area 3
12.20pm
School for discipleship: Your Bible college in a box
Chris Sinkinson, Lansdowne Church, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
12.30pm
Eco-church in action: Supporting farming families in rural Africa
Ann Hatton, Ripple Effect, Talks Area 1
Enjoying science, equipping churches
Dr Gavin Merrifield, Christians in Science, Talks Area 3
Lunchtime Live with Ishmael and Sue Rinaldi
Steve Legg Arts Café
12.40pm
Missional storytelling: why and how to use parables like Jesus
Gemma Gilard, Truth be Told, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
1.00pm
Helping your church to be found on Google
David Lee, Stretch-wide, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
1.20pm
Let puppets do the preaching
Ian Jones, One Way UK, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
1.30pm
The Bereavement Journey: Charting its extraordinary impact on well-being and mission
Revd Nicky Grey, AtaLoss, Talks Area 1
Learning about the heavenly places
Michael Penny, Open Bible Trust, Talks Area 2
Effective AV: back to basics
Stephen Neath, Matthew Wyatt and Andy Pidsley, API, Talks Area 3
1.40pm
Understanding fair trade
Darren Rayner, Kingdom Coffee, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
2.00pm
Embrace the Middle East
Embrace the Middle East, Talks Area 1
Managing drug incidents in youth work
Sarah Brighton, Hope UK, Talks Area 2
Moving your church from maintenance to mission mode
Bob Goody, Rural Missions, Talks Area 3
Guiding people from curious to committed
Lara Talabi Oseghale, Curious Berries, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
2.20pm
Keeping the prayer doors open
Dr Olatunde Banjo, Prayerbud, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
2.30pm
The urgent gospel
Alexandra Huggins, Faith in Later Life, Talks Area 1
Introducing Koble: connecting you to people outside the church
Nathan Jones, Ugly Duckling Trust, Talks Area 2
Technology tuned for church leaders
Matt Perry, Noiseboys, Talks Area 3
Comedy with Tony Vino
Steve Legg Arts Café
2.40pm
My God-given journey to change the landscape of Christian radio
Gareth Cottrell, Konnect Radio, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
3.00pm
Introducing The Miracle Meal communion resources
Dominic and Alidia Symes, Talks Area 4: My Church Needs One of Those
3.30pm
Participating in politics
Andy Flannagan, Christians in Politics, Talks Area 1
William Tyndale and the first printed English Bible: A 500-year celebration
Brian H Edwards, Day One, Talks Area 2
How to help people addicted to porn and adultery
Mike Genung, Blazing Grace, Talks Area 3
Also see the Wednesday talks and the talks programme guide.
BySimon
Discover the Church Organiser: Your free Church of England tool
Chris Gibson, The Church Organiser
Wed 15 Oct, 1.30-2.00
Talks Area 1
Churches in the C of E can get the Church Organiser at no cost which features tools to manage room bookings, ticketing and life events.
In this session you will:
- Discover how room booking administration can be reduced
- Find out how pastoral care around life events can be used to stay in touch with your local community
- See why churches around England trust the Church organiser
- Find out why the Church of England is funding the Church Organiser for all their churches
- Be shown how to make extra money by streaming your room booking process
The Talks Programme is free to CRE visitors – download the programme guide here.
Tickets for CRE 25 are available now!